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Germline and somatic imprinting in the nonhuman primate highlights species differences in oocyte methylation.


Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Cheong, Clara Y 
Chng, Keefe 
Ng, Shilen 
Chew, Siew Boom 
Chan, Louiza 

Abstract

Genomic imprinting is an epigenetic mechanism resulting in parental allele-specific gene expression. Defects in normal imprinting are found in cancer, assisted reproductive technologies, and several human syndromes. In mouse models, germline-derived DNA methylation is shown to regulate imprinting. Though imprinting is largely conserved between mammals, species- and tissue-specific domains of imprinted expression exist. Using the cynomolgus macaque (Macaca fascicularis) to assess primate-specific imprinting, we present a comprehensive view of tissue-specific imprinted expression and DNA methylation at established imprinted gene clusters. For example, like mouse and unlike human, macaque IGF2R is consistently imprinted, and the PLAGL1, INPP5F transcript variant 2, and PEG3 imprinting control regions are not methylated in the macaque germline but acquire this post-fertilization. Methylome data from human early embryos appear to support this finding. These suggest fundamental differences in imprinting control mechanisms between primate species and rodents at some imprinted domains, with implications for our understanding of the epigenetic programming process in humans and its influence on disease.

Description

Keywords

Animals, Base Sequence, DNA Methylation, DNA-Binding Proteins, Female, Genomic Imprinting, Humans, Inositol Polyphosphate 5-Phosphatases, Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors, Macaca fascicularis, Male, Mice, Molecular Sequence Data, Oocytes, Organ Specificity, Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases, RNA, Long Noncoding, Species Specificity

Journal Title

Genome Res

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

1088-9051
1549-5469

Volume Title

25

Publisher

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Sponsorship
Medical Research Council (MR/J001597/1)
Wellcome Trust (095606/Z/11/Z)
This study was conducted by all authors while at the Singapore Institute for Clinical Research and was fully supported by funding from the Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore.